At
a time when the vocation of Journalism was devoid of monetary
temptations and looked at with disregard as regards social
status, Krishna Vattam entered the arena with no second
thoughts. His association with the profession dates way
back to the early 1950's when he succeeded his father Shama
Rao Vattam as the correspondent of The Madras Mail.

Vattam
joined Deccan Herald and Prajavani in 1953. His long stay
in these dailies culminated with his retirement as the Chief
Correspondent in the year 1993, for a period spanning 40
years. He was then appointed as the Editor-in-chief of Prajanudi,
a regional Kannada morninger in the year 2000. In 2003,
he extended his editorial territory by handling The Mysore
Mail, an eveninger and sister publication of Prajanudi.

Krishna
Vattam, apart from being a stalwart of Mysorean journalistic
circles, is identified as a devout environmentalist as well.
He quite effectively used the power of the press to bring
to the people's attention various unattended issues relating
to environment, ecology, and wildlife.

It was his dedication to the cause of environment that saw
him serve as the Founder Director of the Zoo Authority of
Karnataka. He also served as a member of the Karnataka Forest
Advisory Council and Karnataka State Wildlife Advisory Board.
He worked as the Honorary Tree Warden and Honorary Wildlife
Warden as well. Besides, he is the Founder Trustee of Mysore
E
environment Trust.

In recognition of his services, Vattam has received several
honours and awards. In 1983, he was conferred with the Rajyotsava
Award. He bagged the Karnataka Press Academy Award in 1994.
Karnataka Dasara Sports Award came his way in the year 1988.
He was given away the Karnataka Government Environment Award
for Journalists, in the very first year of its inception of
the award in the year 1998 as well.